Jammu & Kashmir: BSF says they fired on crowd in 'self defence'

Even as a curfew was imposed in Ramban district in Jammu and Kashmir after four protesters were killed in firing, the Border Security Force has said that they had acted in self defence because a mob had attacked their camp.

The BSF said that they had stopped one person for questioning on Wednesday night who had not taken their queries "in the right spirit".

When a group of persons gathered there, the BSF party returned to their camp but the group made false announcements stating that the paramilitary force personnel had desecrated the Quran, the paramilitary forces said in a statement.

A person injured in the firing at Ramban. PTI

However, a crowd of around 400-500 people gathered at the BSF post but the personnel called the police and the crowd was dispersed, they added.

The statement goes on to say that they said the mob gathered at the camp again, pelted stones and tried to storm it and one BSF constable sustained a bullet injury because someone in the protesting group had fired on them.

"Police and BSF men had to fire in self defence. It is learnt that four civilians are killed in the firing and few got the bullet injuries also, though the exact numbers is not confirmed," the statement said.